Tech Talk

In an always-on world, taking a break from technology is no longer a luxury—it’s becoming a necessity. From burnout to digital fatigue and revenge bedtime procrastination, our hyper-connected lives are taking a toll on our mental well-being.

We speak with John Pinto, licensed counsellor and Head of Counselling at digital mental health platform ThoughtFull. We explore what a digital detox really means in 2025, why even well-intentioned “focus modes” might not be enough, and how individuals and workplaces alike can set healthier boundaries with technology.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How secure are your messaging apps? Before the scandal dubbed Signal-gate in the US, relatively few people had tried the security-focused messaging app let alone used it regularly.

Are commercial messaging apps secure enough to handle sensitive communications for your family, friends or business? Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage try to untangle the knot of modern apps and the legacy media they’re built on to sort the leaky vessels from the tight ships. And sink a couple of conspiracies in the process.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From powering smart farms to automating construction sites and enabling AI-driven aerial surveillance, industrial automation is no longer the future. It’s happening now, and it’s changing the way businesses operate.

One company leading this charge is Aonic, a Malaysian-born drone and automation firm that’s rapidly growing its footprint across Southeast Asia. At Aonic Day 2025, the company rolled out a suite of next-gen solutions, from CHCNAV’s precision machine control systems to DJI’s latest enterprise drones — all designed to make automation smarter, faster, and more accessible.

Joining us today is Cheong Jin Xi, Founder and CEO of Aonic, to share what these innovations mean, why accessibility matters, and how automation is redefining industries from the ground up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Bradbury and Matt Armitage explore the complicated relationship between the technologies of tomorrow and the legacy systems that play an outsize role in maintaining the world of today.

Following an ‘app for that’ side quest, they take a quick look at COBOL, the 60-year-old programming language that underpins global trade and explore the surprising volume of legacy code, systems and technologies that keep our high-tech world moving. From Python to energy grids to industrial control systems, ageing systems are reliably and efficiently resisting calls for their replacement.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With AI seamlessly becoming a weekly conversation, today we dive into the future of entertainment with Rizal Kamal, CEO at LOL ASIA to discuss how technology is shaking up the stage, the screen, and the entire entertainment experience. We’ll discuss whether AI truly is a game-changer or a creativity killer for this industry and whether a bot ever can match human humor. We’ll also look at what this means for the future of entertainment, from AI powered music and comedians to virtual concerts and the rise of digital showbiz.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Bradbury and Matt Armitage bellyflop into the murky world of brand authenticity. As consumers become increasingly vocal and energized, they are directing their spending towards companies they believe share and reflect their worldview.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As organisations begin to rely more on AI-driven solutions and cloud infrastructure, they also face challenges in implementation, security, and regulation. How can businesses navigate these complexities while staying ahead of technological advancements?

Joining us today is Adriana Kamelia, Co-Founder of CloudSec LLC, and an experienced AI and emerging technologies professional. Having worked with Fortune 500 companies and trained thousands of professionals in AI and automation, Adriana brings insights into digital transformation, cloud security, and the future of AI adoption.

In this episode of Tech Talk, we discuss the evolving role of AI in business, the challenges of cloud migration, and what organisations can do to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, we explore one potential solution: proof-of-personhood technology. Designed to verify human identity online while maintaining privacy, World ID, developed by Tools for Humanity, seeks to tackle these challenges with advanced cryptographic protections and decentralized verification. Join us as we chat with Tiago Sada, Chief Product Officer at Tools for Humanity, to dive into how World ID works, the role of decentralisation in digital identity security, and how these innovations might shape online interactions in Malaysia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Rich and Matt take a wild ride through the digestive tract of tech as they examine the growing anti-science stance of some of the world’s leading tech visionaries. 

Sticking with those gut feelings, they also look at the emerging role that gut flora seem to play in the ageing process. And accuse it of being, at best, a frenemy.

And in case you want something fluffy, they round off with the woolly mammoth mouse, a shaggy, golden-haired mouse that might be the first step in the de-extinction of that Ice Age favourite the woolly mammoth.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of iconic tech products and platforms, with a focus on Skype, the video and audio calling giant set to retire in May 2025. Once a game-changer in the early 2000s, Skype revolutionised communication by offering affordable, high-quality calls, making it a household name with millions of users. However, in recent years, it’s struggled to keep up with more modern platforms like Zoom, Slack, and others that have adapted to the smartphone era.

Why do tech products go from "must-haves" to "obsolete" so quickly? And what does Skype's imminent retirement tell us about the shifting tech trends and the rapid pace of innovation?

Join us in this episode as we speak with Matt Armitage, Founder of Kulturpop, to break down what happens when tech products lose their relevance. We’ll discuss how platforms evolve, the impact of changing user needs, and how products can quickly go from essential to forgotten in the ever-changing tech landscape.

Image credit: Shutterstock

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.